ALBUQUERQUE – A massive number of 280 quarter horses are set to compete for a total of 10 spots in the starting gate for the $3 million All American Futurity when trials are held Friday and Saturday at Albuquerque Downs.
A total of 28 trials for the richest and most prestigious quarter horse race in the world will take place over the course of two days, each to be run at the distance of 440 yards.
A total of 14 trials will be held each day, the five fastest qualifiers from each day will automatically be entered back for the traditional Labor Day event.
This year marks the third consecutive year the All American Futurity, as well as the All American Derby and All American Oaks, will be run at Albuquerque Downs since Ruidoso Downs was forced to shut down most of its racing facilities in 2024 and 2025 due to damage from torrential flooding in the surrounding area.
The All American Futurity is the third and final leg of quarter horse racing’s Triple Crown. Neither Highly Lethal V, winner of the Ruidoso Futurity in June, nor Rainbow Futurity winner El Huracano V, will be competing in the trials for the All American Futurity.
Trainer Raymond Valerio, who trained both winners for owner Samuel Valeriano, was deemed ineligible for the trials after Valeriano’s license was suspended by the New Mexico Racing Commission. Despite receiving a restraining order on the suspension, neither of the previous Futurity winners were entered this weekend.
Headlining Friday’s action in the All American Futurity trials is the undefeated Cowboys Flying, a four-time winner for owner Double J Racing and trainer Ramiro Villarreal.
A Texas-bred son of Flying Cowboy 123, Cowboys Flying captured both the Texas Breeders Futurity on May 9 at Sam Houston Race Park, and most recently won the TQHA Sale Futurity at Retama Park on July 25. He has earned nearly $557,000 and comes into the trials as the leading money earner of the weekend.
Cowboys Flying will race in the 14th and final trial on Friday’s card as the 6-to-5 morning line favorite with jockey Nestor Duran slated to ride.
Saturday’s trials will feature Rodolfo Valles-trained Fall Classic, most recent winner of the Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on May 30.
The Missouri-bred son of Cyber Monday has won each of his three career starts and has earned nearly $509,000 for owner Christopher Villatoro. Fall Classic will go in Saturday’s 11th trial heat and has been installed as the 6-to-5 morning line favorite with Christian Cardenas slated to ride.
For complete coverage of the All American Futurity trials, check out the Albuquerque Downs homepage at equibase.com.